Barrie’s Business & Employer Data Survey is an annual initiative designed to collect data on workplaces operating in the City’s employment and commercial areas. The City of Barrie uses the data collected to monitor economic trends, support business retention and expansion, forecast infrastructure needs, and assist with transportation planning. Data is collected by a team of summer students and Invest Barrie staff through door-to-door interviews, online research, and phone calls.
Survey participants get a FREE listing in the City's annual business directory. Participation is voluntary and offers businesses the opportunity to grow business-to-business relationships and learn about new organizations in the area. An overview of which data points are published and used in aggregate can be found below.
2026 Survey
The 2026 Business & Employer Data Survey is open until September 30. All businesses are welcome to complete the survey online or speak with our team of summer students over the summer.
What to Expect
City staff and a team of summer students are visiting businesses between May and August 2026 to verify and update information for the Business and Employer Data Survey. Your organization may receive an in-person visit, phone call or email requesting participation in a 10-minute survey.
If you have any questions, please contact Sophia Candrasa, Business Development Analyst at sophia.candrasa@barrie.ca or 705-739-4220 x4697.
2025 Summary
The survey identified 4,389 active businesses. Barrie is home to a well-diversified economy; no single industry accounts for more than 19% of the city’s business base or total employment. Advanced manufacturing & knowledge-based industries drive growth.
Why is this Survey Important?
The survey provides the City of Barrie with comprehensive business and employer data that can be used to understand the makeup of the business community, including:
- Organization name
- Address
- Contact information
- Employment numbers (both full-time and part-time)
- Industry classifications
Notice of Collection
Information collected through the City of Barrie’s Business and Employer Data Survey is used for municipal analysis and to maintain a list of organizations across the city. When completing the survey, each business consents to have its public information listed in the online business directory. Businesses that choose to be included in the directory may have the following information published online:
- Business name
- Business address
- Public phone number
- Public email
- Employment range and type (NAICS 2 and NAICS6)
All other survey data is used internally for analysis purposes. Only aggregated data and findings are published to the public. Personal information is not shared or published. For more information on privacy, please refer to City of Barrie’s Privacy Policy.
Data Disclaimer
Only businesses located within the City of Barrie boundary can participate in the Business & Employer Data Survey and be included in the directory. The survey is voluntary and conducted on a point-in-time basis, and results may not reflect the most current conditions, particularly in industries experiencing rapid change.
The survey does not include self-employed individuals or home-based businesses; therefore, it does not represent Barrie’s total number of businesses or overall employment.
The City does not guarantee the completeness or accuracy of the information provided and accepts no liability for any use or misuse of the data, in whole or in part.
Frequently Asked Questions
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